Labour is in disarray as nine members of shadow cabinet openly criticise
Jeremy Corbyn as his two-day reshuffle

Jeremy Corbyn is facing an open revolt by nine members of his shadow cabinet including Tom Watson, the party's deputy leader, after taking two days to finalise a reshuffle of his front-bench team.

The reshuffle, described as "the longest in living memory", left shadow ministers furious as they accused their leader of "indecision and incompetence".

Hilary Benn looks on supportively at Jeremy Corbyn

His decision to sack Michael Dugher, the shadow culture secretary, led to open criticism from shadow ministers including an unprecedented attack by Tom Watson, the party's deputy leader.

In increasingly farcical scenes, Mr Corbyn spent two hours in the chamber of the Commons despite speculation that he was preparing to sack Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary, and Maria Eagle, the shadow defence secretary.

Matt cartoon, January 6

Mr Benn, who had two meetings with Mr Corbyn, was said to be digging in after the Labour leader suggested he could only stay on in the role if he refrained from public criticism.

The Labour leader had planned to sack Mr Benn for backing air strikes in Syria but was forced to reconsider after warnings that he would face mass resignations.

He yesterday sat alongside Mr Corbyn as continued with his front-bench duties, including leading a debate on Saudi Arabia.

There were reports that the reshuffle was further delayed after two Labour MPs turned down offers to replace Miss Eagle as shadow defence secretary.

Tom Watson Photo: REUTERS/David McNew

The decision over Miss Eagle's future is particularly critical as she is co-chair of the party's defence review and in favour of renewing Trident.

Mr Dugher said that he had been sacked by Mr Corbyn for "too much straight talking, honest politics" as he criticised the Labour leader for "squandering" his vision of a "new politics".

He said: "The real casualty today has been the new politics we were all promised four months ago from Jeremy.

"I think that's a real shame, a real squandered opportunity, because I think people were attracted by the idea we could unite and come together people of different views, make a virtue of having debates and proper discussions. In Jeremy's words, even have a little dissent - straight talking, honest politics."

Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home this morning Photo: PA

He criticised Emily Thornberry, the shadow work and pensions minister who is tipped for promotion despite being sacked by Ed Miliband for appearing to mock a family's terraced home draped in England flags.

He told Channel 4: “Islington [Miss Thornberry's constituency] is a very different place to lots of other parts of the country. It’s very hard to win election if you can’t persuade people who drive vans to vote Labour. There is a reason why she went."

The decision to sack Mr Dugher was criticised by Mr Watson along with eight other shadow ministers including Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, Lucy Powell, the shadow education secretary and Vernon Coaker, the shadow international development secretary.

Following the sacking Mr Watson said in a statement: "Michael Dugher is a rare politician - a talented working-class MP who hasn't lost his strong Yorkshire roots.

"Politicians with his ability and commitment can make a difference in any role. Labour's loss in the shadow cabinet will be compensated for by Michael's free thought on the back benches."

David Cameron joked in the Commons that "you could have watched the whole run of Star Wars movies" since the reshuffle began on Monday as he apologised for "interrupting the longest reshuffle in history".

One shadow Cabinet member said: "It is the Trotskyists fighting communists overseen by a Russian nationalist." Another said that the reshuffle delays were a sign of Mr Corbyn's "incompetence".